Caplan's Appliances

Old domestic appliances look so quaint next to the restaurant-grade six-burner ranges, French-door fridges and drawer-style dishwashers that decor mags tell us we want for our kitchens these days. Whether you need that kind of cooking power and space for day-to-day dining is questionable, though it's admittedly difficult to look at the standard stuff once you've wandered the aisles of Wolf, Viking and Aga at a spot like Caplan's. In business for 60 years, the store is currently expanding by adding a Miele gallery with a demonstration kitchen across the street. There's also an outlet section in the main store where swanky appliances go for a (relative) song.

Bergo

If you want your corkscrew to resemble a multicoloured parrot, if you like your salad tongs sculpturally fashioned from chic stainless steel, if you think your espresso maker should be a Smartie-bright colour, Bergo is your kitchen accessory go-to. Every designer houseware brand is represented on the Distillery District store's glass shelves, including Alessi, Georg Jensen, Blomus and Iittala. There are also fun finds for family-friendly spaces from Kikkerland and Pylones.

Good Egg

Mika Bareket's cookbook store is a Kensington Market favourite, and not just because her stacks are stocked with recipe collections to suit every taste. In among the nose-to-tail tell-alls and vegan volumes are kitchen accessories including discounted Le Creuset cookware and Imperia pasta makers. Soft goods stand out, too, like FLUF lunch totes and even a Good Egg-branded burlap grocery bag. Spots in regular culinary workshops on subjects like knife skills and home butchering sell out fast, proving that Bareket's customers are serious chefs and not just dilettante foodies.

Dekla

A Scavolini kitchen is instantly recognizable by its back-painted glass doors and integrated appliances. The Italian line is Rosedale kitchen showroom Dekla's specialty, and its in-house designers work with clients to custom- create a contemporary but approachable look. If your taste is more traditional, Scavolini has a classic line, too, featuring raised-panel doors, luxe mouldings and au courant brass details. The studio can also help you source appliances from lines like Liebherr, Bosch, Thermador and Bertazzoni.

Tap Phong

360 Spadina, 416-977-6364

It's a good thing restaurant supply staple Tap Phong keeps its prices so reasonable. Give home chefs or dining table decorators half an hour in the joint and they're guaranteed to come out with bags of food prep and presentation finds they never knew they needed. There are aisles of pristine white tableware, every imaginable size of pots and pans, and boxes of wine glasses, sake cups and coffee mugs. It's a great source for entertaining, too, since it's often cheaper to buy from Tap Phong than to borrow from the usual party rental suspects.